The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Maryland (GLCCB) announced the appointment of Matthew Thorn to the role of interim executive director last week. According to a press release issued March 20, with this appointment the GLCCB’s board of directors is moving to reaffirm the role that the GLCCB plays in the LGBTQ community.

“The Board of Directors of the GLCCB feels strongly that Matt Thorn’s skills and experience will be a real benefit to the organization as its interim executive director,” said board president Mike McCarthy. “While we are sad to lose him as a board member, we are thrilled that he has stepped up to the challenge of guiding the GLCCB through what promises to be an exciting period. Matt’s devotion to the GLCCB and the greater commitment that he is showing by becoming interim executive director are going to be critical factors in the success of the GLCCB.”

Thorn has been involved with fundraising and nonprofit management. For nearly the last decade he’s worked to assist the homeless, the arts, education, the developmentally disabled and LGBT issues. He started his fundraising work with numerous local, state and federal candidates raising funds for their election campaigns through online and social media. The GLCCB’s Gary Wolnitzek, who has been serving in a director capacity after the departure of former Executive Director Craig Wiley, will retake his role as program director.

Thorn has most recently been a consultant and previously served as director of development at Equality Maryland. He resigned from that post when Equality Maryland’s former executive director Morgan Meneses-Sheets was removed by the board two years ago.

He also served as one of the national co-chairs for the National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change. Thorn currently serves as a member of the Victory Fund Campaign Board and president of the steering committee for PFLAG-Howard County. Thorn is a graduate of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned his bachelor’s degree in International Relations.

“I am looking forward to strengthening the Center and bringing its programs, services and outreach into the 21st century,” said Thorn. “We aim to address the epidemic rate of homeless LGBT youth, build on programming for LGBT elders and work toward transgender non-discrimination, education and upholding the laws that are currently in effect.”